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2026 United States Senate special election in Florida
The 2026 United States Senate special election in Florida was held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Florida. Republican appointee Ashley Moody defeated Democratic state representative Angie Nixon. Moody will complete the term won in 2022 by Marco Rubio, who resigned in 2025 to become secretary of state.
In the primary elections on August 18, Moody won the Republican nomination against minimal opposition. Alex Vindman, the former director of European Affairs for the National Security Council, was considered the Democratic frontrunner and held a significant fundraising advantage during the primary, but Nixon won the nomination with 56.1% of the vote in a major upset.
Democrats have not won a Senate race in Florida since 2012.
Background
Marco Rubio, a U.S. senator from Florida since 2010, was announced as president-elect Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state in November 2024. He was confirmed by the Senate on January 20, 2025 in a 99-0 vote. Ashley Moody, the attorney general of Florida, was named by Governor Ron DeSantis to fill Rubio's vacant Senate seat, and was sworn in the day after Rubio's confirmation. Rubio's resignation triggered a special election for 2026, the next statewide election cycle in Florida. The victor of the special election will serve for the remainder of Rubio's term, until a regular election for a full term in 2028 is held.
Interim appointment
Appointee
Ashley Moody, Florida attorney general (2019–2025)
Considered but not appointed
Kat Cammack, U.S. representative from Florida's 3rd congressional district (2021–present)
Jay Collins, state senator from the 14th district (2022–2025)
Laurel Lee, U.S. representative from Florida's 15th congressional district (2023–present)
Cory Mills, U.S. representative from Florida's 7th congressional district (2023–present)
James Uthmeier, chief of staff to Governor Ron DeSantis (2021–2025)
Declined to be considered
Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida (2019–present), former U.S. representative from Florida's 6th congressional district (2013–2018), candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016, and candidate for president in 2024
Lara Trump, former co-chair of the Republican National Committee (2024–2025) and daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Ashley Moody, incumbent U.S. senator (2025–present)
Eliminated in primary
Chris Gleason, technology consultant
Neelam Taneja Perry, physician
Ernest "Ernie" Rivera, businessman and candidate in 2016
Not on ballot
Jake Lang, podcaster and participant in the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack
Alix Toulme, religion founder and perennial candidate
Declined
Matt Gaetz, former U.S. representative from Florida's 1st congressional district (2017–2024)
Democratic primary
Campaign
Angie Nixon, a progressive Democrat and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, won the nomination over Alex Vindman, despite Vindman having amassed $16.3 million in campaign funding compared to Nixon's $975,000. Nixon campaigned on universal healthcare, free childcare, and a national rent freeze. Nixon had criticized Vindman for having only recently moved to Florida; Vindman ignored her and attacked the Republican candidate, Moody. The result was considered a major upset.
Candidates
Nominee
Angie Nixon, state representative from the 13th district (2020–present)
Eliminated in primary
Alex Vindman, former director of European affairs for the U.S. National Security Council, whistleblower in the 2019 Trump–Ukraine scandal, and brother of U.S. Representative Eugene Vindman
Did not qualify
Joey Atkins, attorney and nominee for Florida's 26th congressional district in 2024 (running for agriculture commissioner)
Alex Gould, business owner
Alan Grayson, former U.S. representative from Florida's 9th congressional district (2009–2011, 2013–2017) (ran for U.S. House)
Withdrawn
Jennifer Jenkins, former Brevard County school board member (ran for U.S. House, endorsed Vindman)
Tamika Lyles, former chair of the Osceola County Democratic Black Caucus (ran for U.S. House)
Hector Mujica, tech executive (ran for U.S. House, endorsed Vindman)
Josh Weil, teacher, nominee for Florida's 6th congressional district in the 2025 special election, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022
Declined
Jerry Demings, mayor of Orange County (2018–present) and husband of former U.S. representative Val Demings (ran for governor)
Jared Moskowitz, U.S. representative from Florida's 23rd congressional district (2023–present) (running for re-election)
Fundraising
Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate.
Third-parties and independents
Independents
Declared
Neil J. Gillespie
Declined
John Morgan, lawyer and founder of Morgan & Morgan
American Party
Did not qualify
Jason Standridge, substance abuse counselor
Veterans Party
Did not qualify
Justin Green
General election
Formerly a swing state, Florida has shifted increasingly to the Republican Party in recent elections. A Democratic candidate has not won a Senate seat in Florida since 2012. This will be the first U.S. Senate election in Florida in which both major party candidates are women.
Polling
Aggregate polls